Paw-Paws
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Thanks for the link Tallyho8.......did some quick research and here's a summary: (also found the wood is extremely hard and has one of the highest BTU outputs of all wood). Also - apologies for sidetracking the Pawpaw discussion.......
The wood of the Osage-orange is golden yellow or bright orange when first cut, but turns brown on exposure. The wood is extremely hard, heavy, tough, and durable. It also shrinks or swells very little compared to the wood of other trees. The wood is used for fence posts, insulator pins, treenails, furniture, and archery bows. In fact, many archers consider the wood of the Osage-orange to be the world's finest wood for bows. (The name bodark is from the French bois d'arc mean "bow wood.") Also, a bright yellow dye can be extracted from the wood.
The use of the hedge apples for insect control is one of the most enduring pest management home remedies. Placement of hedge apples around the foundation or inside the basement is claimed to provide relief from cockroaches, spiders, boxelder bugs, crickets and other pests.
The wood of the Osage-orange is golden yellow or bright orange when first cut, but turns brown on exposure. The wood is extremely hard, heavy, tough, and durable. It also shrinks or swells very little compared to the wood of other trees. The wood is used for fence posts, insulator pins, treenails, furniture, and archery bows. In fact, many archers consider the wood of the Osage-orange to be the world's finest wood for bows. (The name bodark is from the French bois d'arc mean "bow wood.") Also, a bright yellow dye can be extracted from the wood.
The use of the hedge apples for insect control is one of the most enduring pest management home remedies. Placement of hedge apples around the foundation or inside the basement is claimed to provide relief from cockroaches, spiders, boxelder bugs, crickets and other pests.
MossRoad
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The use of hedge apples as an insect repellant cracks me up. My guess is that anyone that has the gumption to go out and pick these things up, haul them home, clean them off and set them around the inside ledge of their basement is probably the same type of person that cleans the ledge regularly in the first place. 
As for the usefullness of the wood, it is well documented that native americans used it for bows. There is also a neat use for the tree in that you can make a living hedge out of it using a technique called pleaching. You bend the branches around and over each other, then wound the branches where they touch. Then you bind them together and they will grow to each other, making a fairly impenetrable hedge. Neat!
As for the usefullness of the wood, it is well documented that native americans used it for bows. There is also a neat use for the tree in that you can make a living hedge out of it using a technique called pleaching. You bend the branches around and over each other, then wound the branches where they touch. Then you bind them together and they will grow to each other, making a fairly impenetrable hedge. Neat!
MODiesel
Silver Member
Around here, even oak & hickory are considered poor cousins to hedge when it comes to fenceposts or firewood. There's just about nothing stronger, and posts that have been set for years & years will still be bright yellow in the middle if you pull them out & cut them up for firewood. But be careful in burning it. I know two folks who damaged their wood furnaces via the high heat that accompanies a hedge fire.
But to get back to paw-paws, if you can get decent sized fruit, they are a nice treat. They were George Washington's favorite dessert.
- Jay
But to get back to paw-paws, if you can get decent sized fruit, they are a nice treat. They were George Washington's favorite dessert.
- Jay
